As geopolitical shifts and rapid technological advances fundamentally transform global security, there is a growing need for cooperation among the United States, China, and other nations to address evolving challenges like biosecurity. The U.S. and China are global leaders in driving advances in modern bioscience and biotechnology research and development. As major players in this space, both countries have a shared interest in protecting these innovations against deliberate misuse and catastrophic accidents.
To address this important issue, NTI and the Chinese Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) convened Chinese and U.S. experts for a virtual Track II dialogue on biosecurity on January 14th and 15th, following a successful exchange in 2024. Meeting co-chairs Mr. Dai Huaicheng, secretary general of CACDA, and Dr. Jaime Yassif, vice president for Global Biological Policy and Programs at NTI (NTI | bio), encouraged dialogue participants to find ways to work together to advance practical solutions to the most pressing biosecurity challenges. U.S. and Chinese biosecurity experts discussed several high priority themes important to both nations, including:
As an outcome of the discussion, participants expressed interest in working together to bolster biosecurity internationally, including by strengthening oversight mechanisms and developing effective safeguards that promote the beneficial applications of rapidly advancing bioscience and biotechnology capabilities while protecting against harm.
NTI and CACDA will continue to convene this Track II biosecurity dialogue to promote mutual understanding and to continue exploring opportunities for cooperation among Chinese and U.S. experts in addressing urgent and emerging biosafety and biosecurity risks. Both organizations aim to jointly convene an in-person meeting in Beijing during the second half of 2025.
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A growing coalition of funders is stepping up to ensure that scientific innovation doesn’t come at the cost of safety and security. Representatives from influential, non-governmental funding organizations who advance critical life science research around the world met virtually on May 9, 2025 for the second Bio Funders Forum.
Executive Order 14292 on “Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research" suggests some promising actions toward protecting modern bioscience and biotechnology against misuse. However, the order threatens to undermine U.S. capabilities to protect the American public from biological threats by requiring a pause in gain-of-function research.
NTI | bio hosts this competition to provide a platform for the next generation of global leaders in biosecurity to develop original concepts and share them with the wider biosecurity community.
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